Sectional canoe



y 1950 F. A. AIMONETTI 2,514,303

SECTIONAL CANOE Filed 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FELIX A. AIMONETTI INVENTOR.

FIGS MwN/Zw ATTORNEYS SECTIONAL CANOE Filed Aug. 7, 1944 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FELIX A. AIMONETTI fig INVENTOR BY fluff ATTORNEYS Patented July 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 2,514,303

. v SECTIONAL CANOE Felix A. Aimonetti, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to Link Aviation, Inc., Binghamton, N. Y., a

corporation of New York I I Application August 7, 1944, SerialNo. 548,468

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a sectional boat, canoe or the like of the type wherein the main sections of the device may be readily taken apart and after being so taken apart may, when desired, be readily assembled in its usable state, suitable clamps being provided to hold the various parts of the structure in their proper relative positions. The primepurpose of providing such a device is to render it, when disassembled, more easily handled and transported to and from the point of use.

Inasmuch as such boats, canoes, and similar vessels are built in sections, suitable means for making the device waterproof must be provided. One such method is the provision of a cover or shoe, made of canvas or other suitablewaten tight, flexible material which may be fit over the entire hull of the assembled structure, thereby rendering it waterproof.

, However, such structures provided with canvas covers have not become widespread in use because of the great length of time required to put the canvas cover on the sections after they have been assembled.

Another disadvantage of the prior art covers is that the type of lacing used makes it difficult to easily secure theentire canvas cover snugly to the assembled sections. Also, the location of the holding means which hold the lacing has been such that much inconvenience is experienced in engaging the lacing therewith.

It is the general object of my invention to overcome the above stated deficiencies of the prior art. I

In the preferred embodiment of my invention this is accomplished by attaching to the upper edge or edges of the cover a strong, resilient cord. At suitable points, spaced a few inches apart, the cord is attached to the canvas cover, as by suitable stitching. Then, there are provided on the outside of the hull near the gunwales at a point above the top of the canvas cover a plurality of holding members, so that the cord may be pulled up and held thereupon by virtue of their elasticity.

By my invention the canvas cover may, therefore, be easily, quickly and securely attached upon the outside of the assembled boat or canoe.

Another object of my invention is to provide a detachable cable, easily aifixed to the canoe along the outside of the cover, whereby the cable may form a keel upon which the canoe may slide when outside the water, thereby preventing undue dam-' age to the canvas cover. Thecable may or may not be affixed to the canvas cover.

In order that the preferred embodiment o my invention may be more fully understood ref-.1 erence is made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich .Fig. 1 is a. plan view of the device shown assembled condition.

Fig. 2 is a view of the stern of a canoe, certain parts being cut awayfor purposes of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in cross section taken, along the line III-+111 of Fig. 1, showing in detail one type of the preferred clamping means. i

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of another of the forms of clamping means which may be used. with my invention. I

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of another means used, in my invention for holding the main sections of the hull as well as the thwart in proper position. j

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a part of one of the hull sections showing'the dowel. pins and holes. v I'.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a part of a, canoe, showing the canvas cover, cord, method of attaching the lacing to the canvas cover, and the holding members on the hull sections with which the cord may be engaged.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a part of the canvas: cover and cord. j

Fig. 9 is a detailed view of the members attached to the canoe sections for engaging the cord. I Q

My invention will be illustrated when incor-i porated in a sectional canoe of the type shown. in Fig. 1 but it should be borne in mind that it may be used in other types of water-going craft. In that figure the longitudinal center line of, the canoe is designated It), the center line of course dividing the device equally. Transverse of the center line are the lines l2, l4 and 16' which extend from the port gunwale l5 to the star-board gunwale ll of the canoe.

The longitudinal center line, Ill and transverse lines l2, I4 and I6 divide the canoe into eight major sections designated generallylS, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30- and 32, and the canoe is preferably built so that each of these eight sections may bev detached from the neighboring sections or at-, tached to the neighboring sections, as the case may be. When detached the various sections may be nested in the usual manner.

The fore and aft decks are designated 34 and 36 and they may be detachably connected to the associated stem and stern hull sections in any conventional manner.

A forward seat 38 anda rearward seatM) are also provided as is a central thwart 42. The seats may be detachably connected to the hull sections in any suitable manner and the thwart is detachably connected to the hull sections in a manner which will be hereinafter disclosed.

Each of the hull sections has a plurality of rigid ribs 44 which extend transversely of the canoe and are suitably curved to properly shape the canoe. Suitable outside covering material 46 is attached to the ribs, and this covering material may be of any suitable type such as canvas, plywood or plastic material.

Still referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that each of the main eight sectionsof the canoe has a longitudinal keel piece 48 or 49, the numbers 48 designating the keel pieces of the four starboard sections I8, 22, 26 and 30 and the numbers 49 designatin the keel pieces of the four port sections 20, 24, 28 and 32. The keel piece of each section abuts the keel piece of the transversely adjacent'section. Further, each of the main eightsectionshas a rib 43 at its extreme end or ends which abut another section of the device. It. will be seen in 1 that a plurality of clamps 50' extending transversely on the inside bottom of the canoe are provided to. hold the sections of the canoe. tightly against the transversely opposite sections. Also. a plurality of the same typesof clamps 50 are provided to hold the var.- ious sections tightly against the longitudinally adjacent sections.

There is shown in Fig. 2 at the stem a second type of clamp 54, three in number, which are used to hold the adjoiningtransverse sections of thecanoein proper relative positions. Similarly, threeof these same type of clamps 54, although not shown, are correspondingly placed in the stern of the canoefor the same purpose.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which shows in detail the previously-mentioned clamps 50. Shown in Fig. 3 is the watertight covering material and the ribs '44 to which the covering material is attached. Rigidly attached to the upper surface of the ribs. 44 are a pair of filler blocks 56 and 58. Block 56 is rigidly aflixed to. starboard :keel 48. in a suitable manner and the keel 48 is also rigidly aflixed to thestarboard rib 44. At the same time, the port keel 49 is rigidly aillxedto filler block 58 and to the port rib 44. A stud plate 60 having a stud 62 rigidly attached thereto is afiixed upon filler block 56 by means of screws 64 and clasp plate 86 is rigidly afiixed to filler block 58 by means of screws 68. Bracket is rigidly affixed to plate 66 in a suitable mannerand pivot 12 is provided so that the clasp.

lever I4 may pivot therearound. Clasp I6 is pivotally connected to clasp lever I4 and may encirclestud 82 as shown, stud 82 being grooved for receiving clasp'lB. When clasp lever I4 is raised clasp T6 may be disengaged from stud 62, and when clasp lever I4'is depressed. with clasp 76 encircling stud.62, as shownin Fig. 3, it will be understood that keel section 48 will be drawn tightly against the keel section 49.

Alsoseen in Fig. 3 is a dowel pin 18 fixedly heldby the keel section 49 which is drilled at 19 to receive the dowel pin. Keel section 48 has a corresponding hole 80 to receive pin. 18. This conventional dowel arrangement is provided at a plurality of suitably spaced places along the keel members and the thick abutting ribs 43 as seen inFig- 6 have the same arrangement, the dowels and dowel holes in that figure also being designated l8 and 80, respectively.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which shows the type of clamp previously mentioned and designated in Fig. 2 by 54. As seen, cam hinge bracket 86 is rigidly amxed to starboard keel section 48 by means of screws 88 and the stud 00 is integral with angle '02 which is suitably rigidly afi'ixed to port keel section 4%]. Cam support bracket 94 is. pivotally mounted upon pin 96 which isheld by cam hinge bracket 80'and cam '98 is rotatably mounted by means of stud I00 held by flange I02 integral with bracket 94. Arm I04 is integral with cam 98. When arm I04 is turnedl80 from the position shown in Fig. 4, cam 98 becomes disengaged from stud 90 and it will berealized that bracket 54 may be moved to the vertical position. whereupon keel members 48 and 49 may be separated. Similarly, with arm I04 in that position,it will be realized that when keelmember 48 is placed adjacent member 49, bracket '94 may be moved to the position shown in Fig. 4 and the movement of arm I04' through 180 to the position shown in Fig. 4 pulls keel members 48 and 49 together thus providing; a tight fit. This type of clamp designated 54 is used in the stem and stern of the device because at those positions lack of space prohibits the use of the type of clamp designated and disclosed in detail in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 discloses-the detailed means of affixing the thwart 42 to the'main hull sections of the canoe and at the same time providing a clamp for holding the longitudinally adjoining sections 22 and 26, on the one hand, and 24 and 28 on the other, in proper relative position.

As seen in Fig; 5, the gunwale I5 of each section 24 and 281s shown to comprise an outer member I00 or I06 and an inner member I08 or I08, thev latter numbers designating the part of section 24. Ribs 43 and 44 are fixedly held therebetween. by means of screws '45. Plate H0 is rigidly aifixed to inner gunwale I08 of section 28 by means of screws I I2 and stud I I4 is fixedly attached to plate H0; A second plate H0 is rigidly aflixed by means of screws 2' to the inner gunwal member I08 or section 24. Stud H4 isrigidly aflixed to plate H0.

Angle bracket I I6 is provided and thwart 42 is rigidly aiiixed to angle bracket I I8 by means of screws II8 while thwart clamp I20 is pivotally mounted with respect to angle bracket H6 by means of stud I22 which is rigidly affixed to angle bracket H6. A pair of clearance holes (not shown) are provided in angle bracket I Hi to allow the passage therethrough of grooved studs H4 and H4 and a pair of curved slots I24 are provided in clamp I20.

With the just described construction it will be appreciated that when thwart 42 is detached from the sections 24 and 28 it may be properly positioned with respect to sections 24 and 28 by having clamp I20 clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 5, this positioning of clamp I20 being possible by virtue of the clearance I26 between the end of thwart 42 and the vertical component of angle bracket H6. Then, by positioning studs I I4 and II 4 with respect to angle bracket I I6 as shown in Fig. 5, the counterclockwise rotation of clamp I 20 to the position shown in Fig. 5 not only draws the longitudinally adjoining sections 24 and 28 together so that they closely abut along the line I4, but at the same time, inasmuch as an arrangement like that shown in Fig. 5 is provided at the port end of thwart 42 and where sections 22 and 25 adjoin, thwart 42 is positioned by the just described arrangement to hold the starboard and port gunwales in their proper relative positions. sections 22 and 26 are pulled together.

Reference is now made to Fig. 7 which shows the canvas cover I30 which is shaped in accordance with the outside of the hull sections when assembled. The canvas cover is also shown in Fig. 3. A strong, resilient cord I32 is shown in Figs. '7 and 8. This cord, as seen inFig. 8, runs along the top edge of cover I30, when the canvas cover is removed from the assembled canoe, and at suitably spaced points the cord is preferably, although not necessarily, stitched by strong thread I34 which passes through the canvas cover and tightly encircles cord I32 so that the cord can not slip through the noose formed by the threads. The cord I32 may be in a single piece completely encircling the top of the canvas cover, or separate pieces may be used.

Also seen in Fig. 7 are a plurality of cord holding members I36 positioned a substantial distance above the top edge I3I of the cover. Fig. 9 is a detailed view of one of the members I39, and it will be seen that they comprise an ordinary screw I38 passing through a member I49 having a groove I42 for receiving the cord.

With the just described arrangement of cover, cord, and cord engaging members it is clear that after the canvas cover has been placed upon the outside of the assembled sections, the cord may be easily and quickly grasped, pulled up and engaged upon the cord holding members. It is not necessary to thread a long lace successively through a series of holes, taking great care to be sure that the lace is tight before it is tied. The provision of the cord engaging members a substantial distance above the points at which the cord is attached to the cover, in combination with a strong resilient cord assures that the cover will snugly fit the canoe. Further, the cord engaging members, being located upon the outside of the sections, further simplifies the cover securing process.

Referring now to Fig. 3 it will be seen that a reinforcing strip I44 may be sewed on the outside of the canvas cover I30 along the part of the cover below the keel sections 48 and 49, and that a cable I46 may be placed below the reinforcing strip. Cable I46 may be provided at one end with a conventional hook (not shown) which fits into the eye I48, affixed to hull section 2|] as shown in Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 7, the other end of cable I46 carries an eye I50 which may be engaged by hook I52 carried by lever I54 which is pivotally attached to bracket I56 fixedly mounted upon keel section 48. Bracket I56 and lever I54 Also,

are preferably of the off-center clamping type.

The just described cable arrangement when used provides a solid member upon which the assembled canoe may slide without damaging the canvas cover.

The preceding description discloses a preferred embodiment of my invention, and it should be understood that numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the appended claims. In the claims the words boat and canoe are meant to include other similar types of watergoing craft.

I claim:

1. In combination with a boat, canoe or the like comprising a plurality of separably connected hull sections, a flexible, waterproof cover upon the outside of said sections for rendering said sections watertight, a strong resilient cord running along the upper edge of said cover and fixedly attached thereto at a plurality of points intermediate the ends of the cord, and holding means attached at a plurality of points to said sections intermediate the ends of the assembled structur for engaging said cord.

2. In combination with a boat, canoe or the like comprising a plurality of separably connected hull sections having gunwales, a flexible, waterproof cover upon the outsideof said sections for rendering said sections watertight, a strong resilient cord running along the upper edge of said cover and fixedly attached thereto at a plurality of points intermediate the ends of the cord, and holding means attached to each of said sections on th outside thereof near the gunwales and above the point of attachment of said cord means to said cover for engaging said cord means.

FELIX A. AIMONE'ITI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 156,218 Haight Oct. 27, 1874 193,814 Graves Aug. 7, 1877 257,591 King et a1 May 9, 1882 429,649 Schermerhorn June 10, 1890 1,673,327 Hahn June 12, 1928 2,085,475 Saives June 29, 1937 2,120,627 Raymer June 14, 1938 

